A FIGHT to stop controversial plans for a super prison is gathering pace.

Villagers in Featherstone, near Wolverhampton, are vowing to do all they can to stop proposals for a four-storey jail being built to house 1,620 inmates, branding it “too big” and an “eyesore”.

Featherstone is already home to Featherstone Prison and Brinsford Young Offenders Institution which will be extended with a third building if the Ministry of Justice plans are given the green light.

Set to be the largest existing prison on a 13 hectare site – formerly the Royal Ordnance Factory Featherstone – families fear the move will result in a “national prison where people will be brought from every corner of the UK to fill it up”.

Spaces for 800 cars will also be provided and residents fear the area will not be able to cope with the extra traffic.

A section of green belt land has also been earmarked for leisure facilities, including a gym, for inmates.

Featherstone Parish Council is now appealing for 1,000 written objections from residents to show the huge amount of opposition to the proposal in a bid to get it thrown out when it is considered by South Staffordshire Council next month. The council has extended a deadline for residents to object by two weeks until November 27.

The plea for objections comes just days after villagers heard people power had won out and the Secretary of State had stood by the council’s decision to refuse permission for a housing development and park and ride on an adjoining part of the site.

Coun Frank Beardsmore, chairman of the parish council, said: “So far we’ve had 100 letters of objection to these plans in just a few days – but we need more.

“We already have two prisons and we feel that a built-up area like this is completely the wrong location for a super prison. This would be the largest prison to be built and residents feel very vulnerable at the prospect of that on their doorstep.”

He added: “We fear that now we’ve stopped plans for 1,000 homes next to the site of the proposed prison, if this plan gets the green light the Ministry of Justice could end up building a women’s prison or open prison next door.

“We will do all we can to stop these plans going through. If we stick together, we hope that people power will win out.”

The parish council is objecting to the plans on the grounds the jail would add to traffic on the A460 and would be an eyesore for people living in Brinsford.

The 13 hectare proposed prison site was sold to the HM Prison Service by BAE.